News Releases
No.70/05
July 27, 2005
EUROPEAN
COMMISSION ALLOCATES €20 MILLION IN HUMANITARIAN AID TO
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
The
European Commission has allocated 2 new decisions with
a total of €20 million in humanitarian aid for victims
of the
Afghanistan crisis and natural hazard in Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Iran. The overarching objective of this funding
is to continue assisting the most vulnerable, whilst sustaining
the return and reintegration process of refugees and internally
displaced persons. Funds will be channelled through the
European
Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under
the responsibility of the Commissioner Louis
Michel.
After 23 years of conflict and 5 years of drought, Afghanistan
remains one of the countries with greatest humanitarian
needs worldwide. ECHO’s Global Needs Assessment places
Afghanistan 8th out of 139 countries in need. Maternal
mortality is extremely high (at 1,600 deaths per 100,000
live births), whilst infant mortality rate is the highest
in Asia (165 per 1,000). Access to safe water remains
a problem (with only 13% of Afghans having access to it).
These indicators are a reminder of the level of humanitarian
needs still present in Afghanistan. However, the situation
has improved since the fall of the Taliban
regime in November 2001. Over 3.5 million refugees and
IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) have returned since
spring 2002, in what constitutes a silent success story
of the international community’s response to the Afghan
crisis. A further 700,000 are expected to return in 2005.
From 2001 to 2004, ECHO provided humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
and to neighbouring Iran and Pakistan worth €218 million.
This aid has helped sustain the massive return of refugees
and IDPs to Afghanistan, provided essential aid to remaining
refugees and IDPs, tackled humanitarian needs resulting
from the drought and generally alleviated the sufferings
of the victims of the conflict and drought. With these
2 new decisions, activities funded for vulnerable people
affected by the consequences of the Afghan crisis in Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Iran, will include:
- Shelter: construction
of shelters for the most vulnerable of the returnees
on a self-help basis (distribution of materials and
training of the beneficiaries on the use of anti-seismic
construction techniques and materials, which are affordable
and embedded in the local culture);
- Water and sanitation: the objective of the
decision is to increase access to drinking water to
the most needy, as well as to improve sanitation facilities.
- Protection: refugees in Iran and in Pakistan
are mainly in need of protection, as well as of support
for voluntary repatriation. Some of the most vulnerable
refugees living in camps in Pakistan, as well as IDPs
living in camps in Southern Afghanistan, are completely
dependent on humanitarian aid for their survival.
- Security: security, notably the targeting of
aid workers, is a predominant concern in Afghanistan
and the main obstacle to efficient delivery of humanitarian
assistance. In order to facilitate operations and enable
partners to conduct their activities in a security-informed
manner, ECHO is funding 2 sets of services for humanitarian
organisations: a flights operation, dedicated to humanitarian
and aid missions, and a security office providing information
and advice.
- Specific actions regarding natural disasters:
providing primary relief, such as distribution of essential
items.
With this funding decision,
the European Commission’s humanitarian assistance to the
victims of the Afghan crisis (in Afghanistan and in neighbouring
Iran and Pakistan) since 1993 reaches €358 million.
More information :
http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/field/afghanistan/index_en.htm
Further Contact Information
Press and Media Relations
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766
